Victor Herbert

Pittsburgh Symphony Conductor, Composer, ASCAP Founder

Victor
Herbert became the conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1898.Herbert was flamboyant conductor who inspired
both musicians and audiences with his great enthusiasm.Ticket sales soared as audiences flocked to
hear Victor conduct a repertoire that included his own popular works.The PSO became a major American orchestra
under his direction and earned critical comparison to the ensembles like the
New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra. Under Herbert the PSO
toured the U.S. highlighted by the premiere of Herbert's Auditorium Festival
March at 1901 Chicago Auditorium Theatre's 12 anniversary. On invitation with
the financing of Andrew Carnegie the PSO performed two concerts at Carnegie
Hall in New York City. After a
disagreement with management Herbert left the PSO in 1901 to found the Victor
Herbert Orchestra.

Born in
Ireland educated in Germany Victor Herbert began his musical career as a cellist
appearing first in Europe and then in American as soloist with major
orchestras.He went on to be a conductor
and composer. While living in Pittsburgh Herbert wrote eight of his operettas. His operettas include “The Serenade” (1897) and “The Fortune Teller” (1898), “Babes
in Toyland “(1903), “Mlle. Modiste” (1905), “The Red Mill” (1906), “Naughty
Marietta” (1910), “Sweethearts” (1913) and “Eileen” (1917).“Babes
in Toyland” was made into a movie musical by Walt Disney.He turned to popular music after World War I.

Herbert
worked with John Philip Sousa, Irving Berlin and others to found American
Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) on February He served as
the vice-prSesident and director of ASCAP until his death in 1924. Herbert won
a landmark US Supreme Court lawsuit in 1917 that gave composers the right to
charge fees for the public performance of their music.

Victor
Herbert was honored with a U.S. Stamp and by the Song Writers Hall of Fame.

"It is difficult to comprehend
the American popular song without the music and vision of Victor Herbert. Today,
Herbert is revered as one of the giants of the American Musical Theater and troubadour
for songwriters." - Song Writer Hall of Fame